Rubber Guard

Since it's a position I use myself, and I know how scattered and sparse tutorials are for it (or used to be, before Eddie put out his book), I thought I would compile all the rubber guard techniques I've found online in one place.

I must warn you though, even with all of these online tutorials, I didn't really start to get rubber guard until someone with experience in it personally showed me it and had me drill a couple moves. Maybe you'll have better luck. I really just recommend finding someone with experience who has been working on the rubber guard for a while and having them teach you.

"Just what makes a pure grappler think he can survive with an experienced striker. Especially if that striker isn't following any particular rule set and is well aware of what the grapplers strategies are".

Work on a stretching program (even if just informally) to develop flexibility. Ask your instructor for some stretches (I got some good ones from mine). I also recommend picking up the book Stretching by Bob Anderson at www.stretching.com. This book has really helped me.

I recommend picking up Eddie's book so you can see how he enters rubber guard. You gradually break them down until you're in position. If you're flexible, you can just jump into it, but if you follow the steps for breaking their posture and bring your legs up and setting up the grips, it takes a lot of the stretch out of it. Also understand that most of the bending is done in your hips.

"Just what makes a pure grappler think he can survive with an experienced striker. Especially if that striker isn't following any particular rule set and is well aware of what the grapplers strategies are".

Work on a stretching program (even if just informally) to develop flexibility. Ask your instructor for some stretches (I got some good ones from mine). I also recommend picking up the book Stretching by Bob Anderson at www.stretching.com. This book has really helped me.

I recommend picking up Eddie's book so you can see how he enters rubber guard. You gradually break them down until you're in position. If you're flexible, you can just jump into it, but if you follow the steps for breaking their posture and bring your legs up and setting up the grips, it takes a lot of the stretch out of it. Also understand that most of the bending is done in your hips.

I've only tapped 2 guys so far, ever (a little under 4 months of training). Both came in the single no-gi class I've attended. One was an ankle lock while back mounted (kind of lucky, that guy owned me otherwise), and the other was a perfect rubber guard omoplata. I got the guy in my guard, pulled his head down, and all I could think of was trying out the rubber guard for the first time. I grabbed my leg, got the overhook, pushed his head away, and omoplata, boom. This is why I seriously love the rubber guard. In fact I got the same thing on my instructor last night, but being a brown belt he could get out of the omoplata easily enough.

I think it's a great position, it leads to so many things, so much more control and setups, it is about 1 step away from an omoplata or a triangle. In MMA, it inhibits GnP.